On the line: It may be repetitive, but it’s still true for the Bears. To get to a bowl game, the team has to win at least two more games. With three ranked opponents and one team that could be ranked left on the schedule, it would benefit the Bears to get the wins out of the way early rather than later. For the Sooners, it’s Bob Stoops’ all-time home record. Before this year, the team had only lost three games in 14 seasons. Oklahoma already has two home losses this year and the high-powered Baylor offense could give the Sooners fits if they can’t keep up with Baylor’s scoring.

When Baylor has the ball: The most intriguing matchup of the night will be the Baylor receivers against the Oklahoma cornerbacks. In last year’s 45-38 win for the Bears, the OU defensive backs gave up six passing plays of 25 or more yards. They were continually blown by the Baylor receivers and Robert Griffin III had passing touchdowns of 59 yards, 69 yards, 87 yards and the game winner was for 34 yards. Terrance Williams has been the Calvin Johnson of college football this year and Tevin Reese is no slouch either.

Javon Harris, an OU defensive back, was made out to be the scapegoat of that loss that took OU out of the title hunt last year. He said he’s been waiting for this game all season so he can show that he can perform against the Baylor offense. He’ll have plenty of opportunities to back up his word with the pass-first mentality of the Baylor offense.

When OU has the ball:
Bob Stoops repeatedly called the Baylor offensive ‘explosive’ in his weekly press conference this week. To keep that offense on the sideline, OU will need to keep the clock running. In last week’s game against Iowa State, running back Brennan Clay exploded for 157 yards rushing and scoring a touchdown on 24 carries. With Damien Williams’ status uncertain for the game, Clay may once again be heavily leaned on. Baylor’s defense has been demolished with the pass (it gave up 656 passing yards to West Virginia ) and the run (gave up 251 yards rushing to Texas). Quarterback Landry Jones didn’t have a passing touchdown in last year’s meeting so the Sooners could lean on the running game once again.

Prediction:
Nick Florence has been turnover prone in away games this year and the Baylor can’t afford to turn the ball over with the success rate of the defense being so low. Landry Jones and the Sooners will have trouble covering the 19.5 point spread, but will still defeat Baylor and exact revenge for last year’s loss. Prediction Oklahoma 48 Baylor 42